To accomplish the coordinated planning structure envisioned under OPA, Section 4202(a) of OPA requires the President to designate specific Areas for which Area Committees are established. Each Area Committee, under the direction of an OSC, must prepare and submit to the President for approval an ACP that, in conjunction with the NCP, is adequate to remove a worst case discharge from a vessel or facility operating in or near that Area.

Through Executive Order 12777, the President delegated to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) responsibility for designating the Areas and appointing the committees for the inland zone as designated in the NCP. The Administrator further delegated this authority to the US EPA Regional Administrators, and designated the 10 pre-existing RRT areas as the Areas for OPA planning purposes. US EPA Region 5, which consists of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, is one Area. Establishment of the Area Committee is required by Section 311(j)(4) of CWA.